Maryland women’s lacrosse’s Megan Taylor, Julia Braig earn individual IWLCA honors

Maryland women’s lacrosse’s Megan Taylor has been named National Player of the Year and National Goaltender of the Year, while fellow senior Julia Braig was named National Defender of the Year by the IWLCA on Thursday.

The awards continue to pile in for Taylor after a historic season. Along with becoming the first goaltender to ever win the Tewaaraton Award, she was also named an IWLCA First Team All-American for the second time in her career Wednesday. The senior has also won Big Ten Goalie of the Year and NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. She also previously won National Goaltender of the Year in 2017.

Taylor’s senior season in 2019 included 23 starts, a .551 save percentage, 217 saves and just an 8.44 goals-against average. She also reached the 700-save mark for her career and set the record for most conference player of the week awards with six in a row from March 5 to April 9.

Braig helped Taylor anchor a Maryland back line that was critical to the success of the team in 2019. After a tough finish in 2018, the Terrapins responded with a national championship run and allowing just 8.08 goals against per game — fifth-best in the nation while also playing two more games than any other team in the top 21.

Individually, Braig earned her second straight IWLCA First Team All-American placement and her second Big Ten Defender of the Year award this season as well. Being named National Defender of the Year puts a stamp on her career and gives her the recognition she rightfully deserves.

Looking ahead, Taylor was also named as a finalist for the Honda Sport Award for Lacrosse, given to the top student-athlete in each women’s sport. Each winner of this award is also in the running for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year award, which will be presented on CBS Sports Network on June 24.